Polar Opposites

Title: Polar Opposites
Rating: PG-13
Author: Reportergirl13
Fandom: Supernatural
Pairing: Dean/Jo Ellen
Word Count: 1,047
Prompt: History repeating…this is a companion piece to ‘True North’



It was late and Jo had just finished helping her mom kick everyone out for closing time. She stood behind the bar stacking glasses when she heard the door creak open and sighed to herself. She thought she locked the damn door. Jo didn’t bother looking up.

“We’re closed.”

Ellen was in back, wiping her hands on a towel and started to make her way out front when she heard Jo’s voice. She tilted the door and shifted her stance so she could glance out into the bar. And the scene in front of her made her heart clench as she drifted to a time not long ago when it was John at that very same door.

“Not even for a friend?”

Jo’s body froze for an instant at the sound of his voice before she took a deep breath and calmed herself down. She was just thinking about how she wasn’t going to put up with his crap anymore, and even if she had to lie and pretend seeing him here didn’t cut through her like one of her knives, that’s what she’d do. Jo snorted.

“Not for you.”

Dean sighed.

“Jo…”

She cut him off.

“No. I don’t care what you have to say. I don’t want to hear it. Go away Dean.”

Ellen watched John’s son and she saw the brief moment of pain flash across his face as her daughter turned away from him. He composed himself quickly and moved further into the bar.

“You’re mad.”

Jo whirled around eyebrow arched.

“You think? Tell me what was your first clue?”

“Damn it Jo. Why do you do this? Why can’t you just be happy with what I can give you?”

Ellen watched as her daughter slammed the glass on the counter shattering it. Dean winced and before he could ask her if she was alright, her mouth was open and she was yelling.

“Because that’s the problem Dean. You don’t give me anything. It’s like pulling teeth with you. All you do is push me away. How long did you think I was going to leave my door open for you to walk through when you keep breaking my heart?”

Dean clenched his jaw and took a deep breath. He knew she was right, but he didn’t do it on purpose. The distance he kept between them was for her safety. It was because he didn’t want Jo to end up like his mom or like Jessica. He didn’t think he’d be able to deal with that.

He and Sam had just finished their hunt for revenge not long ago and it led them down the path of the apocalypse. Dean wasn’t sure he could do it all over again. He shook his head as he glared at Jo.

“You don’t get it do you? You yell at me and get angry when I leave, but Jo I don’t do it for my benefit. Don’t you think it’s just as hard for me being out there when I’d rather be with you? I’m sorry…but we don’t get the happily ever after. We get the right now. You’ve always understood that. What’s changed? Why is this so important now?”

Ellen glanced toward her daughter and watched the tears pool in her eyes. Ellen knew why. She knew what today was. She’d been trying her damndest not to think about it all day. Jo’s voice broke through her thoughts.

“Because…one day Dean you’re gonna walk out that door and you’re not gonna come back. No one’s gonna know to call me and tell me what happened to you. I’m just gonna be sittin’ here like a fool waitin’ until it passes through the grapevine.”

Her voice broke and Dean’s body deflated as he walked to the bar and sighed. He tilted Jo’s head to look at him. She swallowed hard and his voice was soft when he spoke.

“This is about my dad isn’t it?”

Jo moved away from him and shrugged. Dean stood perfectly still for several minutes before nodding.

“Okay.”

Jo frowned.

“Okay what?”

“Go in back, pack a bag.”

A look of confusion crossed Jo’s face.

“What? Why?”

“You’re comin’ on the road with me and Sammy…if you want I mean.”
She gave him a suspicious look.

“Really?”

He rolled his eyes before his face grew serious.

“I’m not my father Jo. You’re right. It’s not fair to leave you behind. Go on I’ll wait.”

She stood there for a second before turning around and heading to pack a bag. She passed her mother on the way and opened her mouth to say something, but Ellen waved her off.

“Go…its fine.”

Jo gave her mom a sad smile and left before Ellen made her way out from behind the door and into the bar area. Dean nodded in her direction and she gave him a tight smile. It was quite for a while before he cleared his throat.

“I’m sorry…about my dad.”

Ellen raised an eyebrow.

“He sold his sold to a demon to save my life…it’s why he never came back.”

She looked away from him.

“Jo told you?”

He scratched the back of his head and nodded.

“About you and my dad? Yeah.”

“Sam know?”

Dean shook his head.

“No and if you don’t mind I’d like to keep it that way.”

She nodded. Dean wasn’t sure what to say, but before he could attempt anything Jo made her way out, bag in hand. He raised an eyebrow.

“Ready?”

She nodded. She walked over to her mom and gave her a hug.

“Call me every week or so. Lemme know you’re alive and kicking.”

Jo laughed.

“Will do.”

Jo and Dean turned to leave as Ellen called out.

“Dean…”

“Yeah?”

“Take care of my baby.”

Their eyes met and a silent agreement was made. He wouldn’t leave Jo behind anymore.

“I will.”

Ellen nodded and watched them go. She heard the familiar sound of the impala’s purr and she smiled. Dean was just like John Winchester and yet they were so different. Where John could never let Mary go enough to commit fully to Ellen, in Dean’s eyes Jo was his Mary.

She shook her head and chuckled to herself. They were polar opposites, but like people said. Opposites attract…